Apparatus for sealing oil wells



Patented Jui.r 1,1929.

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irj srrss l, i,697,114 ur otr/rice,

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EEARATUS EUR SEALING @EL WELLS.

Application led April 2,

tion, the saine being further simple inconstruction. A

@their objects of the invention will become apparent as the nature of the invention proceeds and when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, ln the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application and in, which like numerals designate like parts throughout the scribed. Them-rangement ofthe openingsin several views: i

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the apparatus embodying my invention showing the same in the act of being positioned in the bottoin'of an oil well.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing theposition oiE the apparatus in the bottom of the well after the weighted barrel has been A'disengaged from the rodl and supports the col- 4lapsible container or receptacle.

,Figure 3 is a transverse section, taken approximately on the line 3--3 oit Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows- Figure d is atransverse section taken appronimately on .the line lr-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is .a similar section, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2, and

Figure 6 is .a transverse section, taken on the line 6--6 oil.2 Figure 1.

ln the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred 9embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 Vdesignates @cylindrical receptacle constructed of .any suitable metal, and which is open at its upper end, a removable closure 2 being provided or the upper end of this receptacle. 1.Formed in the lower portion of this receptacle rare the spaced openings 3, 'the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully de'- the lower portionof the cylindrical receptacle is more clearly shown inTiguresl and l ofthe drawings. A anged rin 4 is securedwithin the lower portion of-t e recap# tacle directly above the openings-3 topro- Videla seat for thedisc 5 and which. disc securedj on the upper end of a stem 6 that 1s 1923. .Serial No.' 266,656.

slidable through a central opening formed in the bottom of the receptacle and carried by the lower end of this stein is the ball shaped head 7. 'lhis ball shaped head pro vides a weight for normally maintaining the disc 5 seated on the anged ring 4f, whereby the cement placed in the receptacle 1 cannotescapethrough the openings 3, during the lowering of t e apparatus in the well A.

. Also the weight of the cement inthe receptacle lwill maintain the disc 5 in a seated position upon the danged annular ring e, and as more clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the'receptacle 1 is of a diameter less than the diameter of thewell A., so that` 'an annular space is/ormed between the annular-'wall Aof the casing or receptacle and the oil well, which space is to be lled with the cement emptied trom the receptacle 1, in the manner to be hereinafter more fully described. Slidable through an enlarged opening formed inl the removable closure 2, for the upper open end of the receptacle 1 is the tube 8, the lower end thereof being threaded externally for supporting' thereon a piston or follower 9 that is adapted for reciprocatory movement in the receptacle 1 and this piston or follower is secured on the lower end portion of the tube 8 by means ofthe i nuts 10 and 11 respectively. rlhis construction is clearly shown in Figures 1 land 2 of the drawings. v

Secured `on the upper end of the' slidable tube 3 is a relatively thick `circular plate 12, the securing means therefor comprising upper and lower nuts 13 and 1d, which are threaded on the upper threaded end of the tube 8, while disposed on opposite sides of the plate 12 as clearly shown iii the drawings'.`

Arranged above the plate 12 is the conical shaped head 15 and secured between the iiireceptacle 16.

4This receptacle is preferablyformed of i In a similar manner the upperedgeA of the fabric receptacle' is^c 'amped between the botner opposed faces ofthe plate 12 and the head 15 are'the respective ends of al collapsible ltot tom face ci the head land the metallic plate 4:0 'i piston rod 8, it being understood, of course,

20, the securing means between the head and this plate being shown at 21.

. lThe receptacle 16 is partially filled with cement or other like material-through a lill- 4 ing opening 22 formed in the head 15a-nd a closure plug 23 is provided for this filling opening.

Secured on the upper end of the tube or hollow piston rod 8 for disposition within the receptacle 16 is the plu 24 and slidable through this plug is the ro 25, this .rod extending upwardly through the collapsible receptacle 16 and through the head 15. The rod 25 is preferably arranged in sections, the

-upper section of which extends through the head and the adjacent ends ofthe sections are threaded and connected together by means of a coupling collar 26which engages the-lower end, of this rod are thedownwardly extending dogs 27, a pair of such dogs being provided, one being adapted to extend outwardly from one slot 28 while theother dog projects outwardly from the other side'of said slot and the 'outer ends of these pivoted dogs are pointed for engagement with the inner wall of the tube or hollow piston rod '8.

An expansible coil spring 29 encircles the lower' end portion-of the rod 25 and a iiange 30 is formed-on the rod 25 at a point above the slot`28 and this coil spring 29 is disposed between the Hnge and the pivoted dogs 27 for normally urging the dogs outwardly into locking engagement with the tube or hollow that the dogs 27 may be forced downwardly along the inner wall of the tube during the downward sliding movement of the`rod25 in said tube but said dogs will preventl theupward movement of therod by reason of the coil spring 29 urging the pivoted dogs' out-l wardly. Y

The upper' end of the upper section of the rod 25 is disposed above the apex portion of the conical head 15 and is furthermore threaded .for receiying the sleeve 31', whichY is-internally threaded, the upper end of the sleeve being closed and formed with an alper` .tured eye 32 through lwhich is adapted to extend a break pin 33, having its ends dis-Y y posed in suitable registering openings.

' the discharge openingsl and Normally the parts are arranged as shown 'p16 are `filled with concrete or other similar material, the upper receptacle being only partially filled with this materialand the entire vy apparatus is suspended from the cable 35 downwardly into the well A, it being understood, of course, that the brake pin 33 will .support the Weight of the receptacles that are 'iilled, or contain the concrete. When the head 7 strikes the bottom ofthe well, the lower receptacle will be still l'capable of sliding downwardly on the stem 6,50' that the disc 5 will be disengaged fromthe flanged ring 4 and the'concrete in the lower receptacle will be free to flow through the openings 3 into `the well and surround the receptacle 1 and after the concrete 'is discharged from the receptacle the follower or piston 9 will move downwardly inthe receptacle, causing the tube 8 and the upper receptacle supported -thereon to` move downwardly in the well.

When the rod 25 has moved to its lowermost position in the tube 8, .the collar 26 will rest on theA upper face of the plug 24,/and lthe weight of the concrete in the collapsible upper receptacle Lwill canse this receptacle to assume the position shown in Figure 2, so that the side wallof the receptacle will snugly engage with the `upper .portion of the well, directly above the water level, so that the well will be sealed to prevent the water inthe bottom of the well coming in contabt with the oil that is located above the upper end of the lower receptacle f1. and by exert-ing suliicient-pullon 7the cable 35, the pin willA become broken to permit, the weighted bar 34 to be disengaged from the apertured member 32, so4 that 'said vweighted bar canv eentirel removed from' thewell and the well pump by anyconventional pumping means to remove the oil therefrom. s. e

An oil well sealing apparatusfof the above .mentioned character will, atall times, be positive andv elicient in its operation and will.

positively seal therwell, so 'that water-will be prevented from mixing with the oil. An ap- Iparatusof this character can be manufactured l ata very .low costaud the parts are so ar-` ranged as to enable the same to be readily and easily assembled or disassembled.

Y While I have shown the preferred embodiment; of my invention, it is to be understood that minor changesin the size, shape, andar` rangementof parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention vandthe scope 'of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I 'claim as newy is: v 0

1. An oil well sealingapparatus compr-1sing a material receiving receptacle havin discharge openings in the lower end thereo means for cutting off communication between the4 material in4 said receptacle, a collapsible material receiving receptacle arranged above the first mentioned receptacle, an operative connection between the receptacles, means for lowering the apparatus into a well, and means for actuat-l ing the cut-oil means to permit the material to be discharged from the receptacle into the well when the bottom of the well is reached,

said upper receptacle is adapted to move gradually downwardly simultaneously with the discharge of the material fromthe lower receptacle, the upper kreceptacle being collapsed for sealing/engagement with the wall of the well at a predetermined place.

' 2. ln an oil well sealin g apparatus comprising a material receiving receptacle havingl discharge openings in the lower end thereof, means for cutting oli communlcation between the discharge openings and the material in' said receptacle, a collapsible material receiving receptacle arranged above the first menu jtionedl receptacle, an operative ,connection between the receptacles, means Jfor lowering the apparatus into a well, and means for actuating the cut-olf means to permit the ma- 'terial to be discharged 'from the receptacle into the well when the bottom of the well is reached, said upper receptacle is adapted to move gradually downwardly simultaneously with the discharge of the material from the lower receptacle, the upper receptacle being collapsed lor sealing engagement with the wall ot the well at a predetermined place, and meanslto permit the release of said suspension means from the apparatus when the latter is in its lowermost position in the well.

3. ln an oil well sealing apparatus, a material receiving receptacle having discharge openings in the lower end thereof, a cut-oil valve in the lower end oi' the receptacle to prevent the discharge of the material through the discharge openings, a tube slidable through the upper end of the receptacle, a follower on the lower end of the tube for movement in the receptacle, a'collapsible rna= terial ,receiving receptacle supported 'on the upper V'end of said tube, suspension means -lor the apparatus for lowering the same into the well, means for' association with theE valve 'for moving the same to an open posin tion when the apparatus reaches the loot' tom ol 'the well to permit the discharge of the material' Tfrom the lower receptacle into the well, said follower and tube is adapted to move gradually downwardly in the i'irst mentioned receptacle with the discharge of y the material therefrom, the eollapsiblereceplill tacle is `adapted to move' to a sealing position with respect to the wall oi the well' when the tube has reachedga predetermined position.

Ll. lnan oil well sealing apparatus, a material receiving receptacle having discharge openings in the lower end thereofd aout-oli valve in the lower end of the receptacle to prevent the discharge' of Y, the material through the discharge openings, a tube'slidable threugh the upper'end of the receptacle,

affollower on the lower end of the tube tor lmovement in the receptacle, a collapsible marespect `to the wall o the well when the tube ,l

has reached a redetermined position, and means for permitting the releaseot said suspension means from the apparatus after the same hasbeen lowered into the well.

5. ln an'oil well sealing apparatus, a'material receiving receptacle having discharge openings in the lower end therefor, a cut-"od valve in the lower end oli-'the receptacle to prevent the discharge ol the material through the discharge openings, a tube slidable through the upper end of the receptacle, a follower' on they lower end ol the tube for movement in the receptacle, a collapsiblel ina-1 terial receiving receptacle supported on the upper end of said tube, suspension means :tor the apparatus tor lowering'tliesa'me into the well, means lor association with the valve for moving .the r,same to an open position when the apparatus reaches the bottom ont the well to permit the discharge of the material from the lower receptacle into the well,

l,said follow-er and tube is adapted to move gradually downwardly in the hrst mentioned receptacle with the discharge of the 'material respect to the wall of the well when the tube has reached a predetermined position, a rod extending through the collapsible receptacle and movable therewith, the lower end ot said rod entering' the tube, and means carried by r the lower end ot the rod for locking the rod againstupward sliding movement with respect to the tube. 4

6. ln an oil well sealing apparatus, a material receiving receptacle having discharge openings in the lower end thereof, a. cut-,oilvalve in the lower end or the receptacle to .prevent the discharge oi the material through the' discharge openings, atube slidable through the upper endet the receptacle, a follower on the lovverend ol the tube for movement in the receptacle, a'collapsible ma terial receiving receptacle supported on the' upper end of said tube, suspension means for the' apparatus for lowering the same into the wel.lr means, vtor .association rwith the therefrom, the collapsible receptacle is adapted to move 'to a sealing'position with valve vfor moving the saine to an open posi- 'tion when the apparatus reaches the bottom of the well to permit the discharge of the ,material from the lower receptacle intq the 5 well, said follower and tube is adapted to move gradually downwardly inv the first mentioned receptacle with the discharge of the material therefrom, the-collapsible receptacle is adapted to move to a sealing position 10 with respect to the wall of the well when the tube has reached a ,predetermined position, a rod egtending through the collapsible reend of said rod entering the tube, and means carried by the lower end of the rod for ldcking the rod against upward sliding moveceptacle and movable therewith, the lower ment with respect tothe tube, anda break pin connection between the upper end ofthe rod and said suspension." means,` whereby the suspension meansmay be released fromv 

